The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance has intensified the search for alternative antibacterial agents from natural sources, particularly medicinal plants with a history of traditional use. The present study investigated the antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of selected Indian medicinal plants, namely Azadirachta indica, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Curcuma longa, Moringa oleifera, and Psidium guajava, against two clinically important bacterial pathogens, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the nutritional composition of these plant species was evaluated to assess their potential as functional food resources. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method, and minimum inhibitory concentration values were determined by the broth dilution technique. Ethanolic extracts exhibited significantly higher antibacterial activity than aqueous extracts against both bacterial strains (p < 0.05). Among the tested plants, ethanolic extracts of Curcuma longa and Azadirachta indica showed the largest zones of inhibition and the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration values, indicating strong antibacterial potency. Overall, Staphylococcus aureus was more susceptible to plant extracts than Escherichia coli.
Nutritional analysis revealed considerable variation among the studied plants. Moringa oleifera leaves were particularly rich in protein and essential minerals such as calcium and iron, while Psidium guajava leaves exhibited high crude fiber content. The combined antibacterial efficacy and nutritional richness of these plants support their traditional medicinal use and highlight their potential application in the development of plant-based antimicrobial agents and nutraceutical products. The findings provide a scientific basis for further studies aimed at isolating active compounds and validating their efficacy through in vivo investigations.